Auratone DIY

[Adky]

Jay: the inhaled cone , could be costed by "Flying" in the sky when shipping, see is there any way you could open up some air gap from the back of the speaker to fill it back to the correct air pressure. I got this issue when I was shipping speakers by air cargo.

 

[ds23pallas]

Hey Dave - just wanted to say thanks for this thread, I've just finished making mine.

Here they are:

I need to build a stereo-mono summer to properly test it but I'm really pleased with how it came out. Thanks again!

--
Andy

 

[DaveP]

Well done Andy, nice work ;D
best
DaveP

 

[RelevanteMusic]

Well after reviewing this amazing post, I only have to add that Dave should start thinking about registering the "Davetone" brand 
I must also say thanks to Dave for inspiring many DIY audio engineers to build our own Auratones.

I'm about to start my very own project, It has been a little bit hard to find the exact same drive that Dave used here in the U.S.
The most similar one I have found is this one http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=290-376&scqty=1 I will appreciate any comments about it.

In another forum I found the original specifications for the Auratones, which I consider to be awesome, specially for those of us involved in this project, these are the links...
http://mpe.berklee.edu/documents/studio/manuals/monitors/Auratone%205PSC/Auraton%205c%20PSC.pdf
http://mpe.berklee.edu/documents/studio/manuals/monitors/Auratone%205c/Auratone%205c.pdf

I'll post some pics when I finally get to have mine finished.

Cheers!

David

 

[DaveP]

David,
Thanks for the specs 8)
The speaker you suggest has a roll surround which will give better bass than the paper surround type, this might upset the tonal balance and make it sound bass heavy, but if its all you can get then try them.  Let us know how you get on.
best
DaveP

 

[RelevanteMusic]

make it sound bass heavy

Thanks for the reply Dave... I guess you're right, this speaker is described as a woofer.
I also found this one http://www.parts-express.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=295-010&scqty=1 which is a full range, the only difference I see is that it is not shielded. Since you're the expert here... do you think being shielded is a must?

I will really appreciate your opinion, thanks in advance!

David

 

[DaveP]

That looks ok,
The shielding was to stop the picture distorting when used next to old style CRT monitors or TV screens.  Flat TV screens have LCD's so there are no electrons to deflect with magnetic fields.

Try to get hold of the frequency response of any speaker you consider using and compare to the attached response of an original Auratone.  That will give you more confidence to use it.
best
DaveP

 

[RelevanteMusic]

Thank you very much Dave!

 

[Nele]

Any of you Brits willing to send me a pair of these drivers (to The Netherlands). All expenses paid off course!

Cheers,
Corneel

 

[aronaut]

Researching around the web several sources have pointed to this pioneer driver as the one Auratone used from '99 until they stopped production. Unfortunately it is discontinued (a pair just sold on ebay for $110 so you know somebody out there knows what these are...)

Below are the specs from the Parts Express website to aid us in finding a replacement.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=290-010

Pioneer A11EC80-02F 4-1/2" Full Range Driver
Paper cone with treated cloth surround. Open back and stamped basket. Perfect for bookshelf type speakers and car stereo installations.

* Power handling: 20 watts RMS/30 watts max
* Voice coil diameter: 1"
* Impedance: 8 ohms
* Frequency response: 70-15,000 Hz
* Magnet weight: 9.3 oz.

* Fs: 70 Hz
* SPL: 90 dB 1W/1m
* Vas: .31 cu. ft.
* Xmax: 1.1mm
* Qms: 1.40
* Qes: .47
* Qts: .35
* Net weight: 2 lbs.

* Manufacturer model number: A11EC80-02F

Overall Diameter: 4-1/2"
Cutout Diameter: 4-1/8"
Mounting Depth: 2-3/8"
Magnet Diameter: 3-1/8"
Magnet Height: 1".

 

[PeteC]

Hi Corneel

If my local Maplins still has stock I can send to you if you will cover postage costs.

Cheers
PeteC

 

[PeteC]

Here are mine .....using the Maplins drivers.

thanks for a great little project.

Cheers
PeteC
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g159/pedrocortez/92E52659-3E41-4C2B-9933-BDBDC3BF7175-413-000000225BEB2CDD_zps4ccbf570.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g159/pedrocortez/C6839C0C-34F2-43D9-8441-3233129CB26C-413-000000226146C49F_zpsd671a0ff.jpg

 

[aronaut]

For those in the US looking for a similar driver to the Maplin's this could be it, very similar specs (albeit cloth surround and no shielding) and cheap enough to experiment with

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/MCM-AUDIO-SELECT-55-1595-/55-1595

 

[usekgb]

I still have a case of the old Parts Express NSB drivers.  I wonder if these are close?

 

[aronaut]

Here are specs for those NSB's

Driver features: 3/4" V.C. on paper former, large flat spider, paper cone, rubber surround, and a paper dustcap. Specifications: *Power Handling: 5 watts RMS/10 watts max *VCdia: 3/4" *Le: .60 mH *Znom: 8 ohms *Re: 7.50 ohms *Frequency range: 75-15,000 Hz *Fs: 105 Hz *SPL: 86 dB 2.83V/1m *Vas: .08 cu. ft. *Qms: 5.0 *Qes: .90 *Qts: .76 *Xmax: 1 mm *Driver Dimensions: Overall Diameter: 4", Cutout Diameter: 3-11/16", Mounting Depth: 2-1/4".

 

[usekgb]

Nope.  Not close at all!  I know the NSB's were Pioneers, so I got my hopes up.

 

[dribro]

Hi guys.

Just read the entire thread. Awesome diy work, Davep!! I'm just finishing a proac studio 100 clone (need some bitumex) and now the right candidates will have to be the "davetones". Needless to say, I can't buy from maplin so, if any of you GB fellows would like to help a fellow diyer, that would make my day.

adriano

 

[aronaut]

This looks interesting: http://www.simplyspeakers.com/replacement-speaker-full-range-f-701.html

I completed Dave's version with the Maplin driver and the killatone (http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=297) with a fostex driver.

The killatone definitely sounds better, more depth and freq range, but not owning a real auratone I still don't know how either of these compares.

 

[imo]

Those MCM full range speakers look pretty good, especially for $11 each. I was trying to cross reference the specs, but they don't have as thorough of a spec sheet. Any significant discrepancies with the MCM's to the Maplins?

 

[aronaut]

I compared the MCM to the Maplin, the Maplin sounds quite a bit better...
with the Fostex FF125wk being an even greater step up, though it has some break up nodes at 8k that needs taming with a crossover. but all these drivers do

A